Minnesota Session Laws - 2002, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 316-S.F.No. 2612 
                  An act relating to traffic regulations; authorizing 
                  private vehicle escorting funeral procession to use 
                  flashing red lights; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, 
                  sections 169.04; 169.64, subdivision 3. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.04, is 
        amended to read: 
           169.04 [LOCAL AUTHORITY.] 
           (a) The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to 
        prevent local authorities, with respect to streets and highways 
        under their jurisdiction, and with the consent of the 
        commissioner, with respect to state trunk highways, within the 
        corporate limits of a municipality, or within the limits of a 
        town in a county in this state now having or which may hereafter 
        have, a population of 500,000 or more, and a land area of not 
        more than 600 square miles, and within the reasonable exercise 
        of the police power from: 
           (1) regulating the standing or parking of vehicles; 
           (2) regulating traffic by means of police officers or 
        traffic-control signals; 
           (3) regulating or prohibiting processions or assemblages on 
        the highways; 
           (4) designating particular highways as one-way roadways and 
        requiring that all vehicles, except emergency vehicles, when on 
        an emergency run, thereon be moved in one specific direction; 
           (5) designating any highway as a through highway and 
        requiring that all vehicles stop before entering or crossing the 
        same, or designating any intersection as a stop intersection, 
        and requiring all vehicles to stop at one or more entrances to 
        such intersections; 
           (6) restricting the use of highways as authorized in 
        sections 169.80 to 169.88.  
           (b) No ordinance or regulation enacted under paragraph (a), 
        clause (4), (5), or (6), shall be effective until signs giving 
        notice of such local traffic regulations are posted upon and 
        kept posted upon or at the entrance to the highway or part 
        thereof affected as may be most appropriate.  
           (c) No ordinance or regulation enacted under paragraph (a), 
        clause (3), or any other provision of law shall prohibit:  
           (1) the use of motorcycles or vehicles utilizing flashing 
        red lights for the purpose of escorting funeral processions, 
        oversize buildings, heavy equipment, parades or similar 
        processions or assemblages on the highways; or 
           (2) the use of motorcycles or vehicles that are owned by 
        the funeral home and that utilize flashing red lights for the 
        purpose of escorting funeral processions.  
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.64, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [FLASHING LIGHTS.] Flashing lights are 
        prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school 
        bus, bicycle as provided in section 169.222, subdivision 6, road 
        maintenance equipment, tow truck or towing vehicle, service 
        vehicle, farm tractors, self-propelled farm equipment, rural 
        mail carrier vehicle, funeral home vehicle, or on any vehicle as 
        a means of indicating a right or left turn, or the presence of a 
        vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, 
        overtaking or passing.  All flashing warning lights shall be of 
        the type authorized by section 169.59, subdivision 4, unless 
        otherwise permitted or required in this chapter. 
           Presented to the governor April 3, 2002 
           Signed by the governor April 5, 2002, 12:58 p.m.